Monticello today is an American icon. It's Jefferson's architectural masterpiece and a symbol of the American story. It's on the back of the U.S. Nickel. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Replicas of it dot the American landscape, both real and imaginary. But it wasn't always so. At the end of the 19th century, many doubted Jefferson had even designed it. That changed with the rediscovery of Jefferson's architectural drawings in the early 20th century. What followed is a story of remarkable careers, passionate dedication, economic challenges, and innovative approaches that have made Monticello one of the most enduring places in the American imagination.
Hosted by Gardiner Hallock, Senior Vice President for Preservation and Operations; Lucy Midelfort, Conservator and Curator of Historic Architecture; and Ann Lucas, Senior Historian Emerita.
Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or Google Podcasts.
Hosted by Gardiner Hallock, Ann Lucas, and Lucy Midelfort
Direction and editing by Joan Horn
Sound design by Dennis Hysom
Production by Chad Wollerton and Joan Horn
Early restoration of Monticello in the 1920s
Early tree work at Monticello by the Van Yahres Tree Company
1941 South Wing restoration
1950s restoration of the elliptical arch in Monticello's Library with plaster and ceiling removed
1950s restoration of Monticello's Parlor reveals hidden niches
1955 restoration of Monticello's roof
Originial shingles from Monticello's dome
1984 reconstruction of the Vegetable Garden Pavilion
Monticello's Dome Room undergoing restoration, 1990-1992
Dome Room after the 1990s restoration
Monticello's roof prior to restoration in the 1990s
Restoration of Monticello's roof, 1990-1992
Monticello's roof in 1992 after restoration
Recreation of the Venetian Porches in the late 1990s
Terrace and railings in the 2010s, prior to restoration and reconstruction
Terrace and railings after restoration and reconstruction
Prosperity Bank Headquarters in Sugarland, TX
Monticello Branch of the First National Bank, Huntingburg, Indiana
Monticello replica at the former Twitty City in Hendersonville, TN
Springfield's Town Hall in The Simpsons
There are over 400 architectural drawings in the Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson Manuscripts at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Approximately 245 of these drawings (including notebook pages) are plans for Jefferson's home, Monticello.
